Hindering hemispheric travel

[question everything]

Hindering hemispheric travel

By Alain Dudoit
November 30, 2005

Canada and the United States have long benefited from one of the closest relationships in the world. Every day, $1.4 billion in trade and 300,000 people cross the border... That's why Americans and Canadians alike have expressed concern about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This proposal by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, aimed primarily at U.S. citizens, would require all travelers entering or re-entering the United States from Canada, Mexico and other countries in the Western Hemisphere to present a passport or other approved documentation denoting identity and citizenship. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is scheduled to be implemented at marine and air crossings by Dec. 31, 2006, and at land crossings by Dec. 31, 2007.

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Canada wonders, however, if the travel initiative is the best means of addressing these concerns. Even in the United States there is concern – at the political level, among business and community stakeholders and by individual citizens – as to whether this initiative will truly result in greater security for Americans, as well as whether there will be serious economic and border impacts in their communities.

A number of questions have been asked, including what fundamental security risks are being addressed? Is there enough capacity to process millions of new passports or new alternative documents? What planning is under way to equip our already congested border crossings to deal with such a new requirement?

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Canada fully supports exploring and evaluating proposals by jurisdictions such as Michigan and Ontario to develop enhanced driver's licenses that could also meet travel initiative requirements. The bottom line is that we need to take the time and do the proper analysis before proceeding.

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Dudoit is consul general of Canada in Los Angeles.


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051130/news_lz1e30travel.html